Good News from the Creekview Zone!

Creekview High School

Creekview High School senior Taylor Smith has earned a National Merit Scholarship Corporation Corporate-Sponsored Merit Scholarship from The UPS Foundation.

The NMSC Corporate-Sponsored Merit Scholarships are supported by about 240 corporations, company foundations and businesses, and by NMSC's own funds.  Sponsors may offer renewable awards that cover as long as four years of undergraduate study or one-time scholarships that provide a single payment upon enrollment.   

Committees of NMSC professional staff choose winners by reviewing each eligible candidate’s: academic record, essay, demonstrated leadership in school and community activities, and a high school official's recommendation.  Students become eligible for NMSC scholarships by taking the PSAT; of the 1.5 million students who take the test, some 50,000 with the highest scores qualify for possible recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program… 15,000 are named semi-finalists and 8,000 are named finalists and earn a Merit Scholarship, which include Corporate-Sponsored, College-Sponsored or National Merit $2,500 Scholarships.

The Creekview High School Academic Team has received a $1,000 corporate sponsorship from Southern Engineering Services of Canton, which has sponsored various academically-focused extracurricular activities in the Cherokee County School District since 2006.  The sponsorship, which was presented by Bruce Geddes, president of Southern Engineering Services, will be used to purchase team shirts, acquire a database of practice questions from National Academic Quiz Tournaments LLC, and fund tournament entry fees for the 2013-14 competition season.  The team is coached by Creekview High School AP Government teacher Stan Hunsucker and led by Team Captain senior Taylor Smith.

Creekland Middle School

Creekland Middle School students gave in many different ways this holiday season: collecting toys for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta cancer patients, gathering canned goods for hungry families, providing toys and gifts for needy classmates and raising money for various charities, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, through Think Through Math’s “The Time for Giving Contest.”  For the contest, classes across the Eastern Time Zone including at Creekland Middle competed in math challenges to win money for their chosen charity.

Two teams from Creekland Middle School competed in a high school academic bowl tournament recently held at Cedar Shoals High School.  The Creekland A Team placed first, and the Creekland B Team placed second.  In addition to competing at the high school level as middle school students, the competition allowed as many as five members on a team, and both Creekland teams won with only four members each.

Team members are: Captain Josh Karcher, Captain Will Touchstone and A.J. Creech, Lukas Freeman, Andrew Reisinger, Jack DellaPenna, Zoe Love and Devon Cornelius.  Coaches are John Carter, Dr. Mark Nazemzadeh and Annabel Ballew.

Creekland Middle School’s faculty and staff is participating in a Fit Friendly School wellness and fitness program in partnership with Northside Hospital-Cherokee.  The hospital provided 105 pedometers to the staff, so they can calculate their steps, and “healthy” competitions are planned.  “It should be a fun time for all,” Principal Dr. Deborah D. Wiseman said.  “However, it wouldn’t be possible without the continued support we receive from our fantastic partner, Northside Hospital-Cherokee.” 

Creekland Middle School students recently participated in the Hour of Code during Computer Science Education Week.  The Hour of Code is an opportunity for students to try computer science for one hour.  “Students have been learning how to program through a series of hands-on activities,” teacher Anne West said.  “Computer science helps develop computational and critical thinking skills.  It also shows students how to create, not simply use, new technologies.”

Creekland Middle School recently recognized its Students of the Month for December: Kayla Wilkie, Nick Sawyer, Elliott Prather, Mikki Bicha, Eryn Hasty, Sarah Rodriguez,  Laila Gilles, Faith Richards, Anna Hyde, Ty Pelfrey, Ashleigh Meeker, Madelynn Lutt, and Carson Knauff.

Avery Elementary School

Avery Elementary School this holiday season continued its seven-year “Frosty’s Friends” program that, with the assistance of parents and a dozen community partners including the Service League of Cherokee County and Cherokee Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit, provides food, clothing, school supplies, toys and other gifts for its less fortunate students. 

“These ‘guardian angel’ sponsors’ thoughtful generosity is evidence that our school community is a strong, inspiring network of caring hearts sharing countless acts of kindness that keep us all warmer throughout each year,” Principal Pam Smith said.

Ball Ground Elementary School STEM Academy

Ball Ground Elementary School STEM Academy teamed up this holiday season with partners like the Ball Ground Lions Club and Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services to collect food and gifts for local families in need.

Free Home Elementary School

Free Home Elementary School, led by Principal Karen Carl, has won the 2013 School Bell Award presented by the Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals. This distinguished honor is presented to 10 schools in Georgia each year in recognition of outstanding programs in the area of curriculum and organizational leadership.

Free Home ES was selected for this honor based on its outstanding initiative, “Cultivating a Positive Learning Environment.” The selection committee chooses exemplary programs that show positive results and reflect significant involvement of staff, students, parents and community. 

 “Fostering a culture of continuous improvement in teaching and learning is a major system priority for the Cherokee County School District, and this honor illustrates how Free Home Elementary School and Principal Karen Carl carry out this mission every day… and at a level deserving State recognition,” Cherokee County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo said.  “Ms. Carl’s initiative shows the importance of the entire community working together to make a positive difference in the education and lives of our children, and I greatly appreciate the efforts of everyone who helped make her vision a reality.”

Ms. Carl joined Free Home Elementary in 2012 after starting her career with the School District in 2006 as an assistant principal at Hickory Flat Elementary followed by three years in the same role at Sixes Elementary School.  She previously worked in the Cobb County School District for 19 years as a teacher and instructional lead teacher.  Ms. Carl earned her Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Georgia State University, her Master of Science degree in curriculum and instruction from Central Michigan University and her Education Specialist degree in teaching and learning from Piedmont College.

Macedonia Elementary School

Macedonia Elementary School participates in a “Spirit of the Season” program every holiday season, which encompasses several different service-learning projects including collecting canned goods for the 11Alive Can-A-Thon drive, for which its school choruses also performed at The School Box store on Barrett Parkway collection site; and a new project by kindergarten classes for which they gave up their gift exchange to instead raise $1,000 for the Northside Cancer Institute.